Automatic applying and sealing device.



G. W. TYLER.

AUTOMATIC APPLYING AND SEALING DEVICE.. APPLICATION FILED AUG-30. 1913.

1 ,230, 24:0 Patentd June 19, 1917.

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Application filed August 30, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. TYLER, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Automatic Applying and Sealing Devices, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention relates to devices for applying gummed articles, tape, orthe like, and more particularly to a device for automatically aifixingthin stock in the form of tape, strips, or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which will? hold andcarry a considerable amount of the stock to be applied, will permit thesame to be automatically fed as desired, will moisten the stock ifgummed, or will apply paste if not gummed, will press and smooth thestock when applied, will enable it to be automatically cut and severedat any point desired, and will also have provision for a substantialsupply of moistening liquid or adhesive coating entirely without thehands of the operator touching the tape. A further object of theinvention is to have the tape or the like after being severed from aprevious application, in position and ready primed, as it were, for thenext application without the operator being obliged to handle the tapein the least. Heretofore in tape applying, or sealing devices of thistype, so far as I am aware, it has been necessary during some part ofthe applying operation for the operator to handle the tape beingapplied, either in arranging the same to start, in feeding, in cuttingoff, or in pressing and fixing it firmly on the article, but it is animportant feature of my device to eliminate the manual handling of thetape or the like and to provide a device which is automatic inaccomplishing the various functions above outlined. While 1 have hereinillustrated my automatic sealing device in a preferred form as a smallhand applying apparatus, and as having moistening means for operating ona previously gummed strip, it is, of course, within the scope of theinvention to provide a similar device of sufficient size to handle largeor wide sheets, such as wall paper or the like, andto apply an adhesivecoating thereto in place of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19, 1917.

Serial No. 787,487.

moistening device I have used for illustrative purposes.

Other features of the invention, details of construction and novelcombinations of parts will be hereinafter more fully pointed out andclaimed.

Referring to the drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated,

Figure 1 is an end view of the device;

Fig. 2 being a view in cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base;

Fig. 4 is a detail cross sectional view of the moistening or coatingapparatus;

Fig. 5 isa perspective illustrating a preferred manner of operation; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively plan and side views, partly in section ofa modified form of attachment for handling strips not carried by thedevice.

It will be understood that I may employ my invention in a variety offorms, the essential feature of the invention being that the tape orother article is carried, led, mois tened (or coated), applied, affixedand cut off without the hand of the operator touching it; the apparatusshown in the drawings is the preferred form of the invention so far asat present manufactured.

The device is preferably of metal and comprises two main parts, a base 1and a hollow tubular U-shaped handle 2, being adapted to fit in eitherend of a boXlike receptacle 3 secured transversely of the base 1. andsubstantially in the middle thereof. The receptacle 3 is preferablyformed with either end contracted as indicated at 4 and 5, being ofcorresponding size in cross section to the ends of the U-shaped member 2and adapted to effect a spring tension upon the lower ends of the member2 and retain the same in place as it is fitted therein. The base 1 hasformed transversely therein parallel with the receptacle 3 one end roundor rounded 6', and the other with the inner face 7 rounded (see Fig. 2)and with the rearmost or outer face 8 carrying a cutting edge 9.Preferably the rounded portion 6 is formed directly from the base 1 byhaving suitable portions struck therefrom and abutting, as indicated at10, while the rounded face 7 is similarly formed from the base 1, thusleaving the base with a substantially open central portion, so that theof the lugs and spring clips.

receptacle 3 is exposed to view (see Fig. 3). I preferably form theU-shaped member 2 hollow, and it constitutes a convenient handle, aswell as a carrier for the holder or supply of tape carried by thedevice, and also conveniently constituting the reservpir for the liquidor coating to be applied to the tape, as Will be explained. Fitted inthe receptacle 3 is a pad 11 of wicking or any suitable material. \Vhenmoistening liquid is to be used I find that felt is desirable, but whenan adhesive coating is to be applied, I prefer to use a more porousarticle, such as a sponge. This pad 11 fits in the open portion of thereceptacle 3, Where it is open to view through the aperture in the base1, leaving the end portions of the receptacle free to receive the endsof the tubular handle and reservoir member 2. The member 2 is adjustablewithin the spring ends of the receptacle 3, permitting the lowerportions of the member to be forced down closely to the bottom 12, thuspermitting only a slight amount of liquid to flow from the handles 2 andcover the bottom of the receptacle 3, such flow being an automaticbarometric feed, the ends of the tube 2 being open; and may be raised toa desired height to permit a greater depth of the liquid to cover thebottom 12 of the receptacle, the spring feature as indicated at 4 and 5holding the tube in its adjusted position at the desired height.

The handle or reservoir member 2 also provides a convenient standard tocarry a holder 13, having a hinged portion 1a pivoted at 15 and securedby a spring clip 16, on one side, and having a transverse slot 17 formedin the other side and positioned rearwardly of the device. I may securethe holder 13 permanently to the handle 2, but prefer to make the sameremovable and therefore form lugs 18 and 19 on the upper and lowerportions respectively of the mem her 2 (see Fig. 1) and affix aplurality of spring clips 20 and 21 on the holder 13 so that the samemay be easily applied to or removed from the handle 2, being simplysprung into place and held by the tension This holder 13 is adapted toreceive a roll of tape 22 and can be filled either when removed from thedevice or when aflixed thereon by swinging open the hinged portion 1 1,as will be readily understood. With the receptacle 13 in position andfilled with tape, the loose end is led out through the slot 17 andaround the rounded end portion 6 of the base, then upwardly over the pad11 in the center of the base and downwardly under the rounded face 7 asindicated in dotted lines and by the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2.The tube 2 having been filled with liquid and the tape 22 threaded asabove outlined, the apparatus is ready to be operated. The operator mayhold the same in any convenient manner, and With the tape threaded asshown in Fig. 2, the portion 23 having been drawn across the pad 11 ismoistened and ready for use, the applying portion 7 serving to smooth,press and the tape directly to the article on which it is applied, thedevice being drawn along in the direction of the arrow Fig. 5, until thedesired amount of strip 23 has been applied. The operator then tilts theapparatus .to bring the cutting edge 9 into firm contact with theapplied strip 23 and cuts off the same either by a slanting twist of thedevice or a straight pulling movement. This operation leaves a portionof the tape from the cutting edge 9 to the curved surface 7 all ready inposition under the applying portion of the device so that the apparatusis primed for the next operation. When again applied, the strip of tapeWill at once take hold of the article to which it is afiixed and thetape 22 automatically feed out as the device is drawn along until it isagain severed by the cutting edge 9 when a suitable length L has beenaffixed. It may be desirable, especially in handling tough or strongtape to exert a restraining tension thereon during the cutting offoperation, and if so thiscan easily be accomplished by the hand of theoperator pressing on the ungummed side of the tape, it passes throughtheslot 17 in the holder 13. I have illustrated in Fig. 5 'a convenientway of holding and moving the device, with the operators forefingerextending through the handle 2 and in position to apply pressure on thetape as it is drawn from the holder and through the slot 17 during thecutting ofi operationif such tension is desirable. The liquid in thetube 2 is suflicient for a considerable time, carrying the supply ofliquid in a most convenient manner and conserving its use, the pad 11feeding up, the desired amount by capillary attraction to the topsurface, jj

where the gummed side of the tape 22 is drawn thereover, as has beenexplained. In case it is desired to coat the tape with adhesive, insteadof moistening it as with the pad 11, it will be desirable to raise thehan- I;

dle member 2 sutliciently to permit a deeper quantity of adhesive in thereceptacle 3, :and to provide a more porous pad than wicking, in suchinstance the coating with adhesive taking the place of a moistening ofalready gummed tape, as will be readily understood. In either instance,the use of the device isperfectly automatic, the hand of the operatornot coming in contact with the tape as it is applied during theapplying, pressing, gumming or cutting off actions, after the tape isonce started, andfurthermore the supply ofliquid can be automaticallyregulated by the adjustability of the holder and reservoir member 2 inthe spring end portions of the receptacle 3. The holder 13 isdetachable, permitting difiierent sized holders and of diiferentcapacities, width, etc., as best suited for the particular side, width,and type of tape to be employed, thus permitting one device to be usedwith a large variety of tape or the like. Also when the cover is sprunginto place, the hinged portion 14 can be easily raised to replace thetape 22 when the latter has been used up Without removing the holder 13from the handle.

While I prefer to employ a holder to carry the strip of tape or the likewhich is to be applied by my automatic device, I may use the samewithout its carrying the tape being applied by it, but drawing thesupply from a reel carried on the wall or table adjacent thereto, orsimply contained loosely. The tape from an external reel may be threadeddirectly around the members 6 over the pad 11 and under the portion 7,as has been explained and the device drawn along in the same manner,coating or moistening, pressing and'applying and cutting off the tape asbefore. However, for convenience in use of the device with a loose orexternally held supply, I provide an attachment as shown in Figs. 6 and7. This attachment comprises two arms at and 25, having U-shapedportions intermediate their ends as indicated at 26 and 27,respectively. These arms are united at either end by headed bolts 28 and29, having their other ends threaded and fitted with nuts 30 and 31.These bolts carry guide members 32 and 33, preferably round over whichthe tape from an external source of supply may be led initially in the,direction either of the arrow 34: or from the direction of the arrow 35as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7 In each instance the tape is ledand fed substantially as has been already explained when it is in aholder car ried by the apparatus and the device is manipulated in thesame manner. In order to replace the supply of liquid in the handle 2,it is simply necessary to invert the device, withdraw the member 2 fromits spring engagement with the ends of the receptacle 3 and fill thehandle, then reapply the same while in inverted position, and, uponreversing its position, the device is ready for use. It will be seenthat I have provided a static device which is yet automatic in thehandling of as diflicult an article as gummed stock, tape or the like,preparing and applying the tape (using tape as an illustra tion), andfeeding out the same to any desired length, cutting it 0E, being readyprimed to apply a further length of any extent desired, without movingparts, bearings to wear out, or any manual operation whatever, otherthan simply drawing the device along and tilting it slightly whencutting oi the tape.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the class described, having a base portion provided withtape guiding means, a liquid containing receptacle in said base as apart of tape moistening means, tape applying means, and tape cuttingmeans, and a removable handle portion provided with tape carrying means.

2. A device of the class described, having a base portion provided witha receptacle to contain liquid, tape guiding means on one side of saidreceptacle, tape moistening means carried by the liquid containingreceptacle, and tape applying means carried by the base at the otherside of said receptacle, and a U-shaped handle supported on the base andadapted to carry a roll of tape, said handle being hollow to constitutea supply reservoir for the liquid receptacle in the base.

3. A device of the class described, having a base portion provided withtape guiding, tape moistening, tape applying and tape cutting means, anda handle portion provided with tape carrying means and a liquid supplyreservoir, and means to adjust said handle relatively with the baseportion, whereby the supply of liquid to the moistening means isregulated.

4. A device of the class described, having a base portion provided withtape guiding I means, tape moistening means, tape applying means, andtape cutting means, having a handle, said handle being hollow andprovided with a liquid supply reservoir to supply said moistening means,and being detachably secured to the base portion.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' GEORGE IV. TYLER.

Witnesses:

W. FREDERIG PETERS, JAMES R. HODDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

